At the time, it wasn't pretty. But now, five years later, there was nothing but mutual respect from Beilein and West Virginia when Michigan battled the Mountaineers in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Saturday.

"Our family had so many great memories at West Virginia, and we have a lot of respect for their program," Beilein said Michigan's 81-66 victory. "We respect their team, their coach, their university."

Beilein said he didn't believe battling against his former team would be awkward, as none of the recruits he lured to the school still played there.

One former Mountaineer who did play for Beilein, 2009-10 Final Four hero Da'Sean Butler, currently serves as a graduate assistant for Bob Huggins' staff at WVU -- and though Beilein left after Butler's freshman year, the former Mountaineer star said last week that there were no hard feelings.

"I had a great year with him, when I see him I'll give him a hug and see how he's doing."

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins shared a similar sentiment of respect toward Beilein earlier in the week.

"I think when you start at places like where John started -- and, to a degree, where I started -- you've got to be a good coach to continue to win at every level,'' said Huggins, who also played at West Virginia. "He gets the most out of his guys. I don't think there's any doubt about that.

"They play to their fullest potential."

Beilein went 104-60 during his five seasons at West Virginia. He took the school to an Elite Eight and a Sweet Sixteen, he won an NIT Championship and he laid the foundation for WVU's Final Four run in 2009-10.

Five years later, it seems that's what he's remembered for most at WVU -- not his messy exit.

"Seeing Michigan play West Virginia is hopefully a sign that the bad blood between John Beilein and the school is no more," ESPN.com's Andy Katz wrote Monday. "There was a legal battle over Beilein's buyout that got a bit nasty. But Beilein's run as head coach of WVU was a joy to watch and should be remembered fondly."